Voracious Vixens, 13 Novels of Sexy Horror and Hot Paranormal Romance

by Travis Luedke

  He smiled and the room even grew colder with it. “The specter?” His thin dark brow rose at their silence.

  Penelope cleared her throat. “I will show you.”

  He tilted his head at the king. “So, love conquered the beast?”

  Victor stared back with an impassive expression. “No conquering, just changing.” His eyes glowed brightly and his skin marbled.

  The revered monk bowed again. “So be it.” He turned away and followed Penelope out.

  Alexander pounded his fist onto his desk.

  Victor stared, as he’d never seen the gentle Mesmer angry before. “He can’t take my kingdom, Alexander.” He shrugged. “It’s gone already.”

  “No, but there are many souls he can take.” The older man released a heavy breath. “Nicholi was my friend, you know?”

  “It was a long time ago,” Victor replied.

  “He took an entire kingdom and wiped it out!”

  “Bad history, that.” Victor gazed over at the painting of the Russian Czar, which hung on the study wall. The famous royal family of Russia and the last of a great line of monarchs. He suddenly remembered when he actually met the last of that line, the lovely ill-fated Anastasia.

  “The Russians will never forget it.” Alexander followed his gaze. “And, neither will I.”

  “The Mesmer King.” Victor laughed. “Yes, I remember Rasputin's fake funeral. They all stared at me, when I just couldn’t stop laughing about the joke being played on the entire world. All of history believing he was dead.” His laughter halted while his eyes glowed at the empty doorway. “If he so much as turns one wrong step? They’ll be having his real one, this time.”

  ~* * * *~

  The Ballatori twin’s screams ripped through the halls. A door in the upper hall flew open as she rushed along the balustrade, mindless and panicked, her face glistening with sweat while she tripped and tumbled down the stairs.

  Victor stepped into the foyer with Alexander behind him, to watch the woman as she plummeted along the winding stairs and landed at the bottom with a sickening thump. His emotionless gaze swung up to the balustrade.

  Penelope appeared there, her face pale, her hands covering her mouth, as Grigori stood behind her.

  Alexander rushed over to the still woman at the base of the stairs.

  Bubbly laughter echoed out through the house.

  Victor peered up to see a smiling Sabrina, standing next to Grigori. He drew in a sharp breath and pushed Alexander aside, pulling Valentine into his lap. “Marla?”

  Valentine didn’t respond.

  Penelope appeared next to him and reached out to touch Valentine’s face.

  “Don’t touch her, any of you!” The ominous growled warning bounced off the walls.

  Alexander grimaced and his stunned gaze rose to the banister at the top of the stairway.

  Grigori shrugged. “I’ve never seen it happen before.” His cold eyes narrowed down at them.

  Penelope grew breathless with panic. “He was wiping Sabrina and the next thing we know...”

  Victor cradled her dark head to his chest.

  “They’re twins.” Alexander sighed with disgust. “We should’ve thought of that, but I always believed it to be pure Merger myth.”

  “The link was done a long time back, when they were children.” Grigori appeared next to them. “When I started to wipe one, the other became wiped instead.”

  “Yes, we’ve always been double the trouble, I’m afraid. That was the reason she wiped herself the last time.” She rose and floated above them. “Blood is thicker than Mesmer magic!” Sabrina snickered from above them. “My brother will be happy to have her back, though.”

  Victor raised his glowing eyes. “Do tell him to come to me and try to get her, please.” His snake-like voice rippled out with rage.

  She stared at him and her eyes lit up with realization. “Oh, you’re the King of...?” Sabrina stilled and her eyes grew blank as she hung almost lifeless in midair.

  Penelope’s wide-eyed gaze swung over to Grigori.

  Rasputin held up a single finger pointed at Sabrina. “I always finish a wipe.” His cold eyes did not blink.

  Victor dropped his worried gaze to Valentine’s pale face.

  “Some cannot escape their sins, can they, my king?” Grigori lowered his finger and Sabrina crumpled to the floor.

  He smiled coldly at the Mesmer Monk. “No, we all eventually pay.” His icy smile faded. “And, the price can be heavy.” He scooped Valentine into his arms and quietly floated over the stairs to the hall above.

  ~* * * *~

  Victor sat by her bedside for days and Valentine never moved or batted an eyelash.

  “She’s completely wiped, I believe,” Alexander spoke from the doorway.

  “So it happened anyway, despite her attempts to avoid...” Victor’s conclusion faded away.

  “We can give her a new life now, before she wakes up and see's you.” Alexander released an uneasy breath. “We can set up another life where—”

  He stood from the bedside chair. “No, not another life; she didn’t want that.”

  “Okay, well you can say...goodbye now.” Alexander turned away and shut the door.

  “I’ll make sure they give you the life you had, Valentine.” Victor tilted his head at her. “It will just be minus one rude beast, which you won’t even miss.” He kneeled down, and met her lips with a sigh. “I failed to catch you.” His lips lingered next to hers. He didn’t want to leave her just yet, and he closed his eyes to breathe in her scent, while he hesitated for another long moment. Victor tasted her lips for one last time and closed his eyes at the heady feeling the flavor of her skin always brought to him. His hands curled to fists at his sides. “I should’ve been paying attention.” Unshed tears glittered in his eyes as he rose and turned away.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Malibu, California

  The red Mustang leapt off the freeway ramp, skipping over four lanes of traffic, its lights flashing while it slid neatly in behind the beamer.

  The rookie sat in the passenger seat of the tilting muscle car his nails digging into the dash while he shook from head to toe.

  “Got ’em!” The Mustang’s driver shouted over the noise of the engine with a triumphant smile and maneuvered the powerful vehicle through the lanes, racing along the California One-0-One at a hundred twenty miles an hour.

  A hefty car, the stolen beamer ahead of them couldn’t get around traffic. It steered around a slow moving truck and spun out to the grass byway.

  The excited driver grinned while slamming on the brakes, the Mustang skidding sideways to a dead stop. “Steal cars in my hood, eh loser?”

  Officer Bobby Kane had the miserable misfortune to be sitting in the passenger seat, while his head flew toward the dash and snapped back with a sickening jolt. He shifted his white knuckled grip as he turned to gape at his partner’s face. Fright streaked through his lean body and his teeth chattered with it.

  His new partner got out of the drivers door and leaned in through the open window. “Coming?” she called over the noise of traffic.

  Bobby jumped at her voice. This woman is a complete whack job! He disengaged his frozen fingers from the dash and watched his new partner ease up to the stolen car, her gun extended.

  “Put your fucking hands on the dash!” she ordered.

  The Beamer driver complied.

  She took a careful step closer. “You?”

  The dark-haired driver jerked his head back. “Not you, Valentine!”

  Valentine released a disgusted breath. “How many God Damn cars do you need, Benny?”

  He shrugged. “I can’t help it if Malibu has all the beamers!” He gave her a crooked grin.

  Bobby watched from the front seat of the Mustang while she jerked the car thief from the stolen car and violently slammed him to the hood. A huge grin beamed from her lovely face as she viciously snapped his cuffs on while reading the perp his rights. The young cop shook his
head with astonishment. She’s like a demented overzealous TV cop or something.

  Valentine opened the car door and shoved him onto the leather seat. “And you topped it off with reckless driving, you piece of shit!”

  Bobby’s mouth dropped wide open as he gawked at her rough treatment of the suspect.

  She slammed the car door closed and grinned at her latest assigned partner. “Well, you missed your first bust, Bobby boy!”

  He blinked back at her, his mouth still open.

  “You may not catch any criminals.” Her eyes twinkled at him. “But the fly’s sure better watch the fuck out!” Her delighted laughter cascaded over his head.

  Bobby snapped his jaw shut and watched her go around the front of the car. I can’t take another ride to hell with this Medusa!

  Valentine opened the heavy door and got in.

  His uncontrollable shaking started again, as he stuttered, I’m gonna stay–with the stolen car until...”

  “Well, call it in first, Bobby Boy.” Her intense blue gaze swung over.

  He reached for the radio.

  Valentine started the Mustang and revved the powerful engine as she raised a brow at him.

  Bobby gasped as he dropped the mic and reached for the door handle.

  “Stay with the beamer then.” A wicked smile appeared on her gorgeous face.

  He jumped out and stumbled back.

  The red car spun out, drove across the median and hopped over to the fast lane to join the heavy flow of LA traffic.

  That vicious babe cop is clean out of her mind! Bobby released a shaky breath.

  ~* * * *~

  Valentine smirked while she tore through traffic and glanced into her rearview mirror at the suspect in the back seat. “Fifth partner in three months!”

  Benny’s startled eyes studied the car’s interior. Smooth white leather, all plush and the softest texture he’d ever seen. Well, maybe not ever; I’ve seen it once before. “Uh—where did you get this badass car?” If you fucking bleed all over my seats? I will bleed you out! Benny heard Payne’s cold voice in his head and he shivered.

  Valentine’s eyes swiveled to the rearview mirror and she didn’t answer right away. Switching lanes, she sighed. “A gift.”

  Benny nodded his head with appreciation. “Some fucking gift!” he exclaimed and gazed around again at the leather interior. “This car looks so familiar.”

  “It might just be familiar to a lifetime criminal like you, Benny.” Valentine chuckled. “A cop gave it to me.”

  Benny gaped at her. “No shit?” He laughed. “Why would—?”

  “I don’t know, it was anonymous.”

  Benny whistled loudly. “Man, you must’ve given some gloriously good head to get a car like this!” He sniggered. “It’s a Boss Mustang, you know? But, it’s a guy's car, not a fucking chick’s ride.”

  She glared into the rearview at him and slammed on the brakes.

  Benny helplessly plunged forward, his face smacking hard against the front seat. “Oof!” The breath left his lungs.

  Valentine smiled with satisfaction as she drove down the side street and slowed the car down to pull neatly into her spot in front of the police station.

  “What the fuck is the matter with you?” Benny yelled and tried to shake away the little dots of light dancing in front of his eyes.

  “I thought I saw a salon,” she mimicked a squeaky valley girl voice while she batted her eyelashes at him. “And I might wanna get my nails done, you know?”

  “You could’ve busted my face!” He shook his head with disgust.

  “Yeah, if that were true?” Her gaze turned stony. “It would be busted already.” Her voice fell low as she got out of the heavy car.

  Benny attempted to shake away the dancing blips in front of his eyes. “You cops are all the same; why just last year that God Damn Hurt Legend broke my—”

  “Come on, Benny, and let’s get your pretty little picture taken, shall we?” Her tone rang out sickly sweet while she yanked him from the car. “Besides, you might get a gift just like I did.”

  “Uh?” he asked as he sniffled through his broken nose and stumbled on the walk.

  “Yep, in the joint they gift cons with sweet asses like yours all the time!” She gave him a blue-eyed wink.

  Astounded, Benny gawked at her as she led him through the double doors.

  ~* * * *~

  Valentine kicked her shoes off and plopped down on the couch in her apartment. Today really got her blood going and it was about fucking time Malibu had some action. And no partner again! She remembered Bobby Boy’s face and her laughter grew at the stunned expression he wore while he stood in the byway, watching her drive away. Her laughter slowed when she remembered the cussing she got later from the Chief. “You have to stop scaring partners away!”

  Ever since her big bust last year with the Slasher, she really didn’t have to worry; she’d become a favorite of the Mayor and the city council. Funny thing that case; the suspect—an exact twin to her—and Valentine even became a suspect because of the resemblance. The entire spectacle of it went by in a crazy blur. She got up from the couch, stretched her body and removed her shoulder gun holster.

  She remembered standing with the cuffed suspect at the clerk’s desk while gazing around at all the startled faces in the squad room. All those male cops rushed forward as pandemonium broke loose when they realized she’d single handedly collared the Malibu Slasher, her exact double. Bewildered, Valentine stood wide-eyed while they patted her on the back and took the female perp to be booked. Excitedly, the officers congratulated her, and later they even held a celebration party for her at their favorite bar.

  Smiling with the memory, she headed for the shower while she thought of the fantastical circus full of reporters, national interviews and her face in all the papers. The chief said she’d made the bust just in time, before the FBI took over the famous case.

  Afterward, she became a star and the attention made her feel a constant queasiness. The excitement and adrenaline from all of it did goad at her, as if something was missing, like a needed stimulation or some unknown thrill. She shook her head while forced to admit that she’d become pretty reckless lately.

  Valentine laughed. Reckless, yeah, that was the chief’s exact word to her in his office today. She removed her blouse and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Her lace bra looked a little askew and she yanked it from her chest. A flash of pure adrenaline shot through her as she stared at her nude reflection and she stilled. She swallowed with trepidation and stepped back. Now, this other bizarre thing kept reoccurring. She would get these heated sensual sensations she’d never experienced before, along with these overwhelming erotic dreams. She rolled her eyes. I’d better get a handle or it’s Psyche Eval for me!

  Valentine stepped into the shower stall and raised her face to the warm water. It's just my biological clock ticking. With the superb hot dreams she’d been having? It may be a biological bomb about to explode. She smirked under the water spray.

  ~* * * *~

  “Oh,” Valentine gasped and her body shuddered with delight while his fingers slid into her.

  He relentlessly pumped them in and out, massaging her nipples with his other hand as he lowered his searing mouth to the tender skin along her neck.

  Fighting the urge to scream, her body burned with a building fire while she tried to control her breathing. Why don’t I fight him? Pure decadent pleasure flooded her senses as her body pulsed with desire. Why would I? Instinctively, she moved around on his stroking fingers.

  Raising her up, he plunged her onto his glorious hard cock. Valentine moaned aloud with helpless pleasure as he entered her and she could see herself in the mirror’s reflection.

  He thrust harder.

  “Ahh,” she moaned while her body tensed. She heard him growl low and she trembled with the sound.

  “Come for me,” he whispered to her ear and tilted her hips to the mirror.

  Valentine cou
ld see his swollen cock slick with her juices slide up and into her. She gasped as her body convulsed.

  “Just let your sweet cream flow over me.” His eyes glowed at her from the reflecting mirror.

  “Oh!” Valentine shouted as she bolted straight up in her bed while sweat beaded on her forehead. Breathing hard, she couldn’t catch her breath, raising a shaky hand to her chest while her heart pounded like a jackhammer. What the fuck was that? She gazed around at the darkened room and yanked the sheet away. I’m wet! Feeling down between her thighs, she throbbed, her skin tender like she’d climaxed in her sleep. I’ve haven’t messed around since high school and even then, it was sickening. Now, I’m having wet dreams?

  She lay her head back down. What would he look like, this guy of my dreams? I can’t seem to make out his face in the dreams and the glowing eyes must be some kind of bizarre special effects thing I saw in a movie or something. Would his eyes be green? She shook her head. Blue? She sighed again. No, they would be dark eyes, almost obsidian-hued and he would have a wicked smile, which would make my heart flip over.

  Valentine smiled in the darkness. Well, since it’s up to me to create him? He would have a wicked sense of humor to go with that smile, a take-no-shit attitude, and a hard, lean body with warm hands that would...Gasping, she sat upright again. Dark hair and tall as all get out? His striking image appeared clearly in her mind.

  She jumped out of bed, rushed to the living room and halted at her desk. She stood for a long moment as if she were lost, and then slowly moved around it to the chair. Her breathing sped up as alarm pinged at her. What am I looking for?

  Valentine peered down at all the scattered papers haphazardly covering the messy desk. The answer is here, but what is it? Her heart lurched in her chest and she rifled through the mess. The newspaper, that’s where I’ve seen him! It would be way down at the bottom of the pile. Lifting the entire newspaper stack, she plopped the heavy heap down and turned on the desk light. Let me see, February? She rolled her eyes in thought. No, it was way before the bust. Oh, man, a whole year ago!

  Searching frantically through each newspaper, Valentine tossed each one to the floor. No, no! Damn! I only have six months worth. Her shoulders slumped. The fucking housekeeper should leave my stuff alone! Where would he be? She let out a fluttery giggle. In my dreams, apparently. Dropping to the desk chair, she released a disappointed breath.